[Jordan B]

Hi everyone.
I'm planning on building a rack for my frogs (and ones I will get :twisted: )and I need some advice. What works, what doesn't, what should I use, etc. It would be a small rack with 8-10 of FCA's tanks. What lights should I use, and where do I get them? What misting system should I use (It will be in my room so it needs to run very quietly)? How can I economically do this ? I want all the tanks to have drainage. How much do you think I could do this for. All ideas and suggestions would be great! Thanks.

Jordan

 

[geckguy]

I would light them with shoplights, I use T-12's but I think Scot has had good luck with T-8's. I have one over my pumilio tank and the fireballs have colored up nicely under regular ge 40 watt bulbs. For drainage I would have paul install bulkheads and run piping into a 5 gallon bucket to collect all the water. As for a misting system I think they are unneccesary, I use a pump up sprayer, one used for pesticides with a 1 gallon tank, I bought it brand new and has never been used for anything besides spraying water. I can mist all my tanks and froglet boxes in 20 minutes.

 

[geckguy]

double post

 

[Scott]

Buy the 3 foot wire racks (about $35 bucks). The way Paul is designing the cubes you'll be able to get 3 on each shelf (for a total of 9).

The T8 shoplights cost a little more, but are MUCH higher quality than T10 (normal shoplights) and put out up to 45/50% more light.

s

 

[Guest]

Hmmm.... You haven't seen Marty's rack system have you?

 

[Jordan B]

Thanks for all the replys. Scott, where can I get the t-8 shoplights, and geckguy where do you get the bulbs? Wouldn't there be an issue with overheating if i use the shoplights? Jared, I have been drooling over Marty's setup, but I don't think I want to spend that much money. I think it might make sense for me to have six tanks, not 8 or 10.

Jordan

 

[Scott]

T8's are sold right alongside the T10s at places like Home Depot.

s

 

[geckguy]

I am not sure if they sell the t-8 bulbs in bulk packs but they should, they are usually a good deal cheaper. I have been using the t-12's since my dad bought a new shopping plaza and one of the storage rooms had lots of shelving, and tons of t-12 shoplights and he didnt have a use for them so I was able to get as many as I needed. But I may check out the t-8s if they produce more light. Scott, do the t-8 bulbs fit in any shoplight or does it have to be a t-8 shoplight?

 

[Guest]

I'd suggest getting the 4' wire racks they have at lowes. 77 dolllars, 6ft high and the shelves are about 16 inches deep. You can buy 4ft shoplights for 7.25 + 6.5 for the two lights to put in them.

-tad

 

[kyle1745]

Just a small plug for the Sams club shelves over lowes. I have 1 4ft from each and the Sams club ones are $71 rather than $77 and can hold 600lbs a shelf over 300. I will say they are much more sturdy. After helping Quality Captives out and seeing some of the ones they had, I had to get one to try it out.

The lowes ones work just fine, but will start bowing a little under a bit of weight.

Oh ya the sams one also comes with back stops so you can put containers and etc on them without pushing them off the back.

The lights tad is talking about are great and you can find them at Home Depot. Make sure to get the Daylight bulbs.

 

[Guest]

Do the ones at sam's club come in black? The ones at Lowes say they're good for 350 lbs a shelf, Thats more than three 10 gallon aquariums that are full of water. I've not noticed any bowing either. Still 600 sounds better than 350.

-Tad

 

[Scott]

Smaller sized diameter on the bulb so the Shoplights are different also.

I was reviewing the information for someone yesterday evening and notice the power consumption is 32 Watts (vs. 40 for a normal shoplight) per bulb. Plus, you get brighter lights.

Win, win.

s

... Scott, do the t-8 bulbs fit in any shoplight or does it have to be a t-8 shoplight?

 

[Guest]

Tad,

I've got the one from lowes and have 4 vert tens loaded on one shelf and its bowing...Not happy at all with the lowes one, especially since the shelf has only been up about a month and that shelf wasnt fully loaded till about a week ago. Probably will see about replacing it with a Sams club one when i get the basement finished.


Matt

 

[dmartin72]

Does anyone know if they sell something similar at COSTCO?

 

[Guest]

I've gotten all my wire racks (which is not just for aquariums-- there are other uses) from Costco.
j

 

[dmartin72]

Do you remember how much they set you back? What color are they? I'm going there today!

David

I've gotten all my wire racks (which is not just for aquariums-- there are other uses) from Costco.
j

 

[Guest]

Silver (chrome I guess) and around $70. They're actually rather heavy too, so I recommend bringing a cart-- hmmm sounds like experience from carrying it without one...
j

 

[melissa68]

Racks: we got all of our racks from Sam's. Regardless of the brand you buy, if you have the chance to bring a friend to help out, do it.

Lights: Got ours at Home Depot, the T-8s are awesome. The fixture was under $8 and 2 6500K lights were around $6. So, for $14 you get a light fixture with a 5-6 foot cord. Our plants are growing like weeds under the T-8s. Plus, each fixture uses 16W less electricity than the T-12s.

Melis

 

[dmartin72]

I can't seem to find the 6500k t-8s at home depot. Are they called something different? Any suggestions?

 

[Guest]

I've got the one from lowes and have 4 vert tens loaded on one shelf and its bowing...Not happy at all with the lowes one, especially since the shelf has only

I'm curious how do you have them sitting on the rack? I wonder if it has something to do with the way the weight is distributed? I can believe that 4 10 gallon vert tanks would weight more than 350lbs.

Does anyone know if the racks at costco/sams club come in Black? I like chrome it just wouldn't match anything else in my living room.

-Tad